Published weeks ahead of the annual UN General Assembly, the report calls on governments to protect refugee and migrant children, end the detention of child migrants, speed up legal processes associated with their migration and address the root causes of large-scale migration.

“Today, nearly one in every 200 children in the world is a refugee,” said Lily Caprani, UNICEF UK’s deputy executive director.

“In the last few years we have seen huge numbers of children being forced to flee their homes, and take dangerous, desperate journeys, often on their own. Children on the move are at risk of the worst forms of abuse and harm and can easily fall victim to traffickers and other criminals.

“Many of these children wouldn’t resort to such extreme measures if the UK government made them aware that they may have a legal right to come to the UK safely, and if they provided the resources to make that process happen before these terrible journeys begin.”